Earticle

선형가속기의 선량평가를 위한 멸균증류수를 사용 시 보존기간에 따른 불순물 유입 으로 탁도가 변화로 선량값의 오차가 발생하게 된다. 이에 탁도 측정을 통한 멸균증류 수 교체기준 및 교정계수를 획득하고자 한다. 물팬텀 내 멸균증류수를 2주 간격으로 8회에 걸쳐 탁도를 측정하고 10MV 광자선을 이용하여 선량을 측정하였다. 측정결과 탁도증가에 따른 선량오차는 비례관계를 보이며, 허용오차인 3%에 대치되는 탁도는 2.8 NTU로 나타났다. 이를 통해 선량측정 시 탁도를 측정하여 해당 교정계수에 적용 하여야 하며, 탁도가 2.8 NTU를 넘는 경우에는 멸균증류수를 교체하여야 할 것이다. 향후 이를 통해 선형가속기의 절대선량 평가가 별도로 이루어진 실험 및 탁도의 세분 화에 따른 교정계수 산출을 통한 연구의 기틀을 마련하고자 하였다.

Background: Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is the most accurate for calculating radiation dose distribution and determining patient dose. In MC simulations of the therapeutic accelerator, the characteristics of the initial electron must be precisely determined in order to achieve accurate simulations. However, It has been computation-, labor-, and time-intensive to predict the beam characteristics through predominantly empirical approach. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between electron beam parameters and dose distribution, with the goal of simplifying the MC commissioning process. Materials and Methods: The Varian Clinac 2300 IX machine was modeled with the Geant4 MC-toolkit. The percent depth dose (PDD) and lateral beam profiles were assessed according to initial electron beam parameters of mean energy, radial intensity distribution, and energy distribution. Results and Discussion: The PDD values increased on average by 4.36% when the mean energy increased from 5.6 MeV to 6.4 MeV. The PDD was also increased by 2.77% when the energy spread increased from 0 MeV to 1.019 MeV. In the lateral dose profile, increasing the beam radial width from 0 mm to 4 mm at the full width at half maximum resulted in a dose decrease of 8.42% on the average. The profile also decreased by 4.81% when the mean energy was increased from 5.6 MeV to 6.4 MeV. Of all tested parameters, electron mean energy had the greatest influence on dose distribution. The PDD and profile were calculated using parameters optimized and compared with the golden beam data. The maximum dose difference was assessed as less than 2%. Conclusion: The relationship between the initial electron and treatment beam quality investigated in this study can be used in Monte Carlo commissioning of medical linear accelerator model.

본 연구는 의료용 선형가속기 사용에 따른 차폐벽과 가속기 주변 부품의 방사화에 대한 평가를 수행하였다. 평가방법은 에너지 20 MV와 가동시간 1 일부터 ~ 30 년까지 각각 모의실험을 진행 하였으며, 평가부분은 선형가속기 헤드 부분과 차폐벽을 이루고 있는 콘크리트에 대하여 실험을 진행하였다. 그 결과, 중성자 양은 광자가 생성되는 타깃을 중심으로 거리에 따라 중성자가 분포하는 것으로 분석되었다. 특히 타깃의 중성자 플럭스는 9.19E+08 개/$cm^2$/sec로 가장 높게 나타났다. 차폐벽은 상대적으로 타깃과 인접한 부분이 높게 분석되었으며, 그 값은 28967 개/$cm^2$/sec로 계산되었다. 이를 바탕으로 방사화를 분석한 결과 가동시간이 길수록 방사능이 높았으며, 대부분 10년부터 방사화가 포화되는 것으로 분석되었다. 또한 방사화로 인해 생성된 핵종은 대표적으로 Co-60, W-181, 185, 187, Na-24, Ca-45, Mn-54, 56, Fe-55, 59 등으로 나타났다.

This study evaluated the activation of the shielding wall and the components around the accelerator by using the medical linear accelerator. We performed simulations for energy values of 20 MV with the operating time ranging from day 1 to 30 years, and linear accelerator head and shielding wall concrete were also evaluated. The results showed that neutrons in large quantities were analyzed using high energy around thetarget point where photons were formed. Based on the activation analysis with these results, radioactivity increased with an increase in operation time and activated nuclides usually start saturating in10 years. Furthermore, the general types of nuclides formed owingto the activation were Co-60, W-181, 185, 187, Na-24, Ca-45, Mn-54, 56, and Fe-55, 59.

본 연구는 의료용 선형가속기를 차폐하고 있는 차폐벽에 대하여 방사화 분석을 함으로서 추후 선형가속기 시설의 해체 시 해체비용의 절반이상을 차지하는 차폐벽에 대하여 폐기물 준위를 평가하고 이에 따른 폐기물 처리방법을 분석함으로서 해체비용 측면에 있어서 이득을 얻을 수 있는 방법에 대하여 논의하고자 한다. 실험결과, 선형가속기에서 발생하는 중성자 양은 차폐벽을 방사화 시키기에 충분한 양이 측정되었으며, 방사화 분석 결과 약 20 개 이상의 핵종이 분석되었다. 이 중 $^{24}Na$, $^{45}Ca$, $^{59}Fe$ 핵종이 규제해제 농도를 초과하는 것으로 분석되었으며, 그 값은 차폐벽 깊이가 깊어질수록 농도는 줄어들었다. 이를 바탕으로 특정 세 구역(E,F,G)은 매립이나 재활용이 불가능한 것으로 평가되었으며, 나머지 구역은 일정 깊이 이상일 경우 매립이나 재활용이 가능한 것으로 평가되었다.

This study analyzed for the radioactive shielding wall, which shields the medical linear accelerator. This allows to evaluate the level of waste with respect to the shield wall, which accounts for more than half of the cost of dismantling later linac facility. In addition, by analyzing the waste processing method according we discuss the way to obtain the benefits in terms of dismantling cost. Results of the simulate, the amount sufficient to screen the amount of neutron radiation occurring in the shielding wall linac was measured. And neutron activation analysis results were analyzed nuclides more than about 20. This analysis was in excess of that, $^{24}Na$, $^{45}Ca$, $^{59}Fe$ nucleus paper deregulation concentration. The value is reduced is greater the deeper the depth of the shielding wall concentration. Based on this, three specific areas (E, F, G) was estimated to be impossible to landfill or recycling. The rest area was estimated to be buried or recycled if possible more than a predetermined depth.

연구배경: 세기조절방사선치료와 같이 고선량을 암조직에 정밀하게 전달할 수 있는 방사선 치료기술이 개발됨에 따라, 보다 정확한 선량평가 기술의 개발이 요구되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 선형가속기에서 발생된 광자선의 물질투과율 정보를 통해 간접유도방식으로 에너지스펙트럼을 예측할 수 있는 기술의 개발을 목적으로 한다. 재료 및 방법: 의료용 선형가속기를 사용한 측정과 몬테칼로 전산모사를 통해 감쇠물질의 두께에 따른 X-선의 투과율이 평가되었으며, 이와 더불어 단일에너지에 의한 이온함의 반응함수가 결정되었다. 최종적으로 Unfolding 방법을 사용하는 HEOROW 프로그램을 통해 고선량률의 치료용 선형가속기에서 발생된 광자선의 에너지스펙트럼이 유도되었다. 본 연구에서 실험을 위해 Elekta Synergy Flatform 선형가속기가 사용되었으며, 몬테칼로 방법을 사용하는 Geant4 전산모사 프로그램이 사용되었다. 결과 및 논의: 감쇠물질의 두께에 따른 X-선 투과율과 몬테칼로 전산모사를 통해 계산된 X-선 투과율의 비교 결과 0.43%의 평균제곱근오차가 확인된다. 물질투과정보를 통해 간접적으로 유도된 에너지스펙트럼은 몬테칼로 전산모사를 통해 직접적으로 계산된 에너지스펙트럼과 비교분석 되었으며, 피크위치 및 평균에너지의 오차가 각각 0.066 MeV와 0.03 MeV로 평가되었다. 하지만 보다 정확한 에너지스펙트럼을 예측하기 위해서는 다양한 감쇠물질의 사용과 에너지스펙트럼 유도프로그램의 정밀도 향상을 위한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 확인된 물질투과율 기반의 에너지스펙트럼 측정 기술은 에너지가 높고 선량률이 높기 때문에 광자선을 직접적으로 측정하는 것이 제한적인 의료용 선형가속기에 적용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Background:　For the accurate dose assessment in radiation therapy, energy spectrum of the photon beam generated from the linac head is essential. The aim of this study is to develop the technique to accurately unfolding the energy spectrum with the transmission analysis method. Materials and Methods: Clinical linear accelerator and Monet Carlo method was employed to evaluate the transmission signals according to the thickness of the observer material, and then the response function of the ion chamber response was determined with the mono energy beam. Finally the energy spectrum was unfolded with HEPROW program. Elekta Synergy Flatform and Geant4 tool kits was used in this study. Results and Discussion: In the comparison between calculated and measured transmission signals using aluminum alloy as an attenuator, root mean squared error was 0.43%. In the comparison between unfolded spectrum using HEPROW program and calculated spectrum using Geant4, the difference of peak and mean energy were 0.066 and 0.03 MeV, respectively. However, for the accurate prediction of the energy spectrum, additional experiment with various type of material and improvement of the unfolding program is required. Conclusion: In this research, it is demonstrated that unfolding spectra technique could be used in megavoltage photon beam with aluminum alloy and HEPROW program.

A modified irradiation technique utilizing a linear accelerator for radiation surgery within the brain was performed in 41 cases of patients with anteriovenous malformation(AVM), astrocytoma, meningioma. etc. The treatment planning and dosimetry of small field for stereotactic radiosurgery with 10 MV X-ray isocentically mounted linear accelerator will be presented dose with field size, the central axis persent depth dose and the combined moving beam dose distribution. The three dimensional dose planning of stereotactic focusing irradiation on small size tumor region was perfomed with dose planning computer system(Therac 2300) and was verified with film dosimetry. The more the number of strip and the wider the angle of arc rotation, the larger were the dose delivered on tumor and the less the dose to surrounding the normal tissues. In this study, the using machine and method was as fellowing. 1) Apparatus : NELAC-1018 10MV X-ray 2) Strip No. : Select the 5-7 strips 3) Cone and field size are from $1{\times}1cm^2$ to $3.5{\times}3.5cm^2$, and special circular cone designed for the purpose of minimized the risk to normal tissue and those size are $0.7{\~}3.6cm{\phi}$.

Background: Despite advances in radiotherapy, overall survival of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients is still poor. Moreover dosimetrical analyses with these newer treatment methods are insufficient. The current study is aimed to compare intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) linear accelerator (linac) and helical tomotherapy (HT) treatment plans for patients with prognostic aggressive brain tumors. Material and Methods: A total of 20 GBM patient plans were prospectively evaluated in both linac and HT planning systems. Plans are compared with respect to homogenity index, conformity index and organs at risk (OAR) sparing effects of the treatments. Results: Both treatment plans provided good results that can be applied to GBM patients but it was concluded that if the critical organs with relatively lower dose constraints are closer to the target region, HT for radiotherapeutical application could be preferred. Conclusion: Tomotherapy plans were superior to linear accelerator plans from the aspect of OAR sparing with slightly broader low dose ranges over the healthy tissues. In case a clinic has both of these IMRT systems, employment of HT is recommended based on the observed results and future re-irradiation strategies must be considered.

This paper presents the development process of a high-dose X-band linear accelerator (LINAC) for radiotherapy machines, specifically focusing on stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The development process includes a multi-physics design, approach for the radio frequency cavity in the LINAC, with an emphasis on minimizing beam size and maximizing shunt impedance of the LINAC. Commissioning tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the LINAC, which involved measurements of beam energy, beam size, beam current, and X-ray dose rate.